pretentious

prɪˈtɛnʃəs

Definition

Definition of pretentious - Reverso English Dictionary

Adjective

behaviorclaiming unwarranted importance or distinction

His pretentious manner annoyed his colleagues.

ostentatious

pompous

showy

impress otherstrying to impress by affecting greater importance

The pretentious writer used complex words unnecessarily.

grandiose

ostentatious

showy

vulgar display

Rare

displaying vulgar or tawdry showiness

Rare

The pretentious party was all about showing off wealth.

flashy

ostentatious

showy

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Origin of pretentious

Latin, praetendere (to pretend)

Terms with pretentious included in their meaning

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affected

adj.

behavior

artificial, pretentious or designed to impress

airs

pretentious behavior

affected manner to impress others

all bark and no bite

exp.

pretentious talk

full of big talk but lacking real power or action

rant

communication

pompous or pretentious talk or writing

air

pretension

pretentious behavior or attitude

high-class

adj.

pretentious elegance

pretentiously elegant or refined

baloney

language

pretentious or silly talk or writing

beard-stroking

pretentious thought

pretentious or overly intellectual contemplation

Examples of pretentious in a sentence

Her pretentious speech bored the audience.
His pretentious attitude annoyed everyone at the party.
She wore a pretentious outfit to the casual event.
Her pretentious outfit drew attention.
The pretentious decor was overwhelming.

View all translations of pretentious

✨Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.

French:prétentieux, snob, ...
German:überheblich, angeberisch, ...
Italian:pretenzioso, pacchiano, ...
Spanish:pretencioso, ...
Portuguese:pretensioso, exibicionista, ...
Chinese:自命不凡的, 矫饰的, ...
Japanese:気取った, 見栄を張る, ...
Arabic:مُتَصَنِّع, مُتَفَاخِر, ...
Hebrew:יוֹמְרָנִי, רַאֲוָתָנִי, ...
Russian:претенциозный, напыщенный, ...
Ukrainian:пихатий, претензійний, ...
Hindi:आडंबरपूर्ण, दंभी, ...
Bengali:দাম্ভিক, আত্মম্ভরী, ...
Catalan:pretensiós, afectat, ...
Czech:pompézní, afektovaný, ...
Danish:prætentiøs, selvhøjtidelig, ...
Dutch:pretentieuze, pretentieus, ...
Greek:αλαζονικός, ψωνισμένος, ...
Hungarian:fellengzős, fontoskodó, ...
Khmer:ធ្វើឫក, អួតអាងបែបថោកទាប, ...
Korean:거만한, 과장된, ...
Persian:متظاهر, متظاهرانه, ...
Polish:pretensjonalny, ostentacyjny, ...
Portuguese (BR):pretensioso, ostentoso, ...
Romanian:pretențios, afectat, ...
Swedish:pretentiös, prålig, ...
Thai:แสร้งทำสำคัญ, หรูหราเกินไป, ...
Turkish:gösterişli, havalı, ...
Vietnamese:kiểu cách, làm bộ, ...

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Definition of pretentious - Reverso English Dictionary

Adjective

Origin of pretentious

Terms related to pretentious

Terms with pretentious included in their meaning

Examples of pretentious in a sentence

View all translations of pretentious

Discover how Reverso redefines the dictionary

Go beyond “simple words”

Get more than a simple definition

Go from understanding to mastery